Meet the Staff

A blue and white graphic with a photo of Cara Riggins with the NCHPAD Connect logo and the word spotlight below it

How long have you been with NCHPAD?

Four years.

Tell us about your background & education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

I have a bachelor’s degree in health education and promotion from Berea College and a Master of Public Health from Tennessee State University. Before coming to NCHPAD, I worked at Lakeshore Foundation with NCHPAD and a few other grants. I also worked as an epidemiologist at the state health department for a few years, but my background spans federal and state agencies – primarily in the health education realm.

How long have you worked with people with disabilities?

Since I started with NCHPAD.

What program or programs do you work with? How long have you worked with that program?

NCHPAD Connect. I’ve been with it since its inception. I’m an Expert Inclusion Specialist (EIS) providing participants with tailored health resources.

What talents or expertise do you bring to NCHPAD or this program?

I’m super organized and pay attention to small details. I think small details are important for helping larger programs run efficiently.

What is your favorite thing about NCHPAD or this program?

Providing people with free health resources and things they would have had to pay for elsewhere. I like that it’s free, especially given today’s economy. It’s hard to find anything this valuable for free.

What’s your favorite NCHPAD resource or video series?

I like the Five Meals, One Bag resource. I hate food waste, and I like that this series gives people ideas for five meals in one bag. Each meal uses the same ingredients to minimize food waste.

What are you most looking forward to in this program?

Just providing people with free health resources and programs. It’s almost impossible to find anything this valuable for no cost. I really like being able to connect people to those programs.

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

I’m a plant mommy, so I enjoy taking care of them. I got into gardening at the beginning of the pandemic and enjoy that. I also love to travel and explore new restaurants in the city.

What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

Anything sweet and traditional Thanksgiving foods.

What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?

Music: 2000s hip hop and R&B. My favorite movie is Mean Girls. TV Shows: Law and Order: SVU.

What’s the last book you read? How was it?

Room on the Broom. It’s a children’s book. I have two small kids, so I rarely read for myself!

Who or what inspires you?

My family!

What’s your favorite quote?

The will of God will not take where you the grace of God will not protect you.

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

I would be a food/travel blogger.

What’s one thing (not related to your job) that you could teach someone else how to do?

How to do their nails.

Kalani Upshaw

For this week’s staff spotlight, we caught up with Kalani Upshaw, one of our Community Health Educators. Kalani shared her favorite NCHPAD resources, what brought here to NCHPAD and the work she does to develop GROWTH, our mental wellness program.

Tell us about your background & education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

I have a Bachelor of Science in human environmental science and a Master of Public Health in global health. I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA where my work focused on mental health promotion. I wanted to continue serving others and promoting mental health, so I joined NCHPAD as a Community Health Educator about a year and a half ago.

What program or programs do you work with?

I’m working to develop our mental wellness program called GROWTH, which stands for Growing Resilience Out of Wellness and Thoughtful Habits.

What do you do?

In addition to my work on GROWTH, I’m a Community Health Educator – I go out into the community for outreach and engagement.  

What talents or expertise do you bring to NCHPAD or this program?

I have personal experience in the mental health field and have worked in this area for three years.

What is your favorite thing about NCHPAD or GROWTH?

My favorite thing about NCHPAD is the sense of community that it provides for those living with disabilities.

What’s your favorite NCHPAD resource or video series?

My favorite NCHPAD resource is the Mindfulness Meditation series provided on the NCHPAD YouTube channel.

What are you most looking forward to in this program?

I’m looking forward to hearing stories from our participants and strategies for how they self-manage their mental health and well-being. I also look forward to helping participants find new ways to cope with daily life stressors and prevent early signs of mental distress. 

Share a success story. Tell us about a time when you really saw your program working in the life of a participant.

One of our participants shared that they had little knowledge about mental health, so seeing them learn and ask questions throughout the program really showed how the program was working in the life of this participant.

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

I enjoy traveling, swimming, yoga and trying new things.

What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

My favorite food is curry and rice.

What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?

I really enjoy watching action/adventure movies.

What’s the last book you read? How was it?

The last book I read was Essentials of Biostatistics in Public Health. It was for my master’s degree.

Who or what inspires you?

What inspires me the most is a drive to become the best at what I do.

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

I would spend the day working as a physician.

What’s one thing (not related to your job) that you could teach someone else how to do?

I could teach someone else how to swim.

Cathy Wright

In this week’s NCHPAD Spotlight, we caught up with Mindfulness Instructor Cathy Wright. We chatted with Cathy about her career, the path that brought her to Mindfulness (and the MENTOR program), and much more!

How long have you been with NCHPAD?

I’ve been working with MENTOR since its inception: I designed and teach the Mindfulness portion of the program. 

Tell us about your background & education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

My relationship with NCHPAD began through the Lakeshore Foundation, when I was a consultant on Lakeshore’s original Strategic Plan years ago. The plan included three pillars:  exercise, research, and advocacy. This led to the recruitment of NCHPAD Director Dr. Jim Rimmer. The development of the MENTOR program and a commitment to advocacy led to inviting NCHPAD to locate on Lakeshore’s campus. 

I am a litigation attorney and mediator and practiced law for almost 25 years. A constant travel schedule and three children led me to a career change. I was a founder of a consulting company and worked for 15 years consulting with businesses, government, and nonprofits all over the US in the areas of strategic planning, communication, leadership, and crisis management. 

During that time, I also engaged in a long process of meditation training, beginning with Shaolin arts like tai chi, qi gong, and martial arts. I participated in a number of meditation trainings that led me to become an Enneagram teacher certified by The Narrative Enneagram, an approach based in meditation. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of world’s most respected Enneagram teachers. 

After I sold my business in 2016, I joined the inaugural Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program taught by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. Today, I continue my training through the Diamond Approach.    

I’m a military kid and grew up all over the US as well as in Germany and Panamá. From these travels I learned that people are the same everywhere, but culture really matters. 

How long have you worked with people with disabilities?

My experience in working with people with disabilities began with consulting on the original Lakeshore Foundation Strategic Plan about 15 years ago. However, my father, an experienced US Army combat infantry officer, sustained a severe TBI leading to multiple issues, including seizures, when I was in elementary school. In those days, no treatment was offered, so I learned early about the daily challenges of living with severe injuries and the costs of not having any support. Working with the MENTOR program has been very healing for me. 

What do you do with NCHPAD?

I designed the MENTOR Mindfulness Training program and taught all the classes for several years. When the program grew, I recruited additional teachers with the help of Christy Sharshel and Tara Brach. As a result, we have some of the best and most experienced teachers both in Mindfulness and in working with people with disabilities. I continue to manage the teacher group and, together, we have continued to develop the curriculum.

What talents or expertise do you bring to NCHPAD or MENTOR?

This is a long, rambling answer more about the program than my expertise. In sum, I’d say that we have succeeded in cracking the code of how to reach students who weren’t looking for a Mindfulness class. My observation has been that many Mindfulness trainings are geared either toward people searching for mindfulness training while other programs are oriented toward one specific application such as pain or stress management. We wanted to develop a program that would be accessible to everyone. 

When Dr. Rimmer, the leading academic on disability and exercise – and founder of the MENTOR program – approached me about helping to develop the Mindfulness platform for MENTOR, we had many conversations about what the program would accomplish. We talked about the importance of having a structure and an arc for the training protocol, which led to the foundational design being based on The Power of Awareness, on which my teaching certification is based. While based in the combined 100 years’ experience of Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield, it is designed to be secular and instructive for people who want to incorporate the benefits of Mindfulness into their everyday lives. 

Most important for our classes, we have been focused on providing participants with an experience of how being mindful can support quality of life by reducing stress, creating more choices, enjoying the opportunities in each moment, and being at peace with reality. MENTOR participants come from a wide range of backgrounds, demographics, educational levels, beliefs, and challenges.  Most have no previous experience in mindfulness and do not arrive at MENTOR in search of mindfulness training. Some participants have current or past experience with meditation, yoga, or other forms of mindfulness training but are unaware of how their practice might support them in their current circumstances.  

We want all participants to not only learn basic concepts and tools, but also to experience what it is like to be able to apply them moment to moment. The classes also support them to build the tools and mindsets that offer calm, joy, and greater choice about how to respond to whatever circumstances they meet. 

I think this is the most important achievement of the MENTOR Mindfulness training: to reach a wide variety of people and allow them to enjoy their experience an hour a week for eight weeks, while beginning to apply some of these tools in a way that supports them where they are, and to do so sustainably. 

We are sometimes asked about how we adapted the training for people with disabilities or chronic illness.  It is very important that our teachers have some understanding of the lived experience of our participants and what they need to process. All our teachers have this knowledge to some extent, and many have their own lived experience of disability.  We try to be inclusive in our language and provide alternatives so the teaching is accessible to everyone. 

But I don’t think “adapted” is the right word. Meeting yourself where you are right now is the practice, which requires paying attention to how to adjust the practice for you as you are right now.  As teachers in MENTOR Mindfulness, we also see that our participants often have a readiness for mindfulness that others might not, because people who enter MENTOR mindfulness training already are managing new and often difficult circumstances that require them to slow down and think in new ways. 

In this introductory class, our teachers are careful to set good boundaries about what we offer and what we do not. We are not there as healthcare providers or therapists. We try to set realistic expectations about what is reasonably achievable in eight classes. 

What is your favorite thing about NCHPAD or MENTOR?

Working with – not for but with – our participants on a mutual journey of discovery. I learn something new in every class, and I always say the participants learn most from sharing with each other. An expression of an “Ah Ha!” experience by a class member is a great source of satisfaction, knowing that someone has found a way for their life to become easier and more enjoyable. 

Share a success story. Tell us about a time when you really saw your program working in the life of a participant.

There are so many examples, and the MENTOR team has collected feedback over the years that we have been offering classes. Here are some examples: 

  • A bright and thoughtful young man entered the MENTOR program with a heavy heart, blaming himself for a sports-related injury with lasting effects. In our first class of each session, we emphasize the central importance of “Rule #1: Be Kind to Yourself” and “Rule #2: Remember Rule #1.” This teaching is consistently the strongest feedback we hear about how the MENTOR training has been helpful. Over the next few weeks, he embraced this new understanding and became visibly happier and more engaged in life.  By the end of class, he planned to continue his Mindfulness training with the goal of teaching in the program. We’d love to have him.
  • A young man with a high school education with a physical injury felt a lot of anger and said he tended to explode when things frustrated him. During this program, the diverse group of participants—including a PhD and an experienced government staffer – became close and supported each other. Following the class sessions about the neuroscience of emotions and thoughts, and how to befriend your inner critic, this young man reported that he was using the tools he learned in class to manage his emotions and finding that he was able to reduce or even avoid outbursts. 
  • A young mother, newly diagnosed with a chronic illness, reported that over the course of the Mindfulness training, she began feeling calmer and “just stopped” smoking. 
  • A senior participant diagnosed with a chronic illness and now also diagnosed with a rapid onset of dementia sat through every class. While he never spoke, he was always smiling. His caregiver reported that he really looked forward to the classes, which provided both of them a time of respite. 
  • A brilliant man with several advanced degrees had a stroke over a year ago and was making slow but steady progress on recovery. In the past, he had a meditation practice, but hadn’t practiced in years. He reported that the MENTOR Mindfulness program had rekindled his awareness of how meditation could support his life after a stroke. 
  • A physician diagnosed with a chronic illness found she could combine her medical experience with the tools and practices she learned in the MENTOR program. Over the course of the program, she began sharing her knowledge with the class, which both grounded her own practice and inspired the rest of the class. 
  • In all our MENTOR Mindfulness instruction, we offer participants both permission and methods to adapt the practices to what works for them as they are right now. A paraplegic young woman with limited mobility was surprised to find that using embodied practices gave her a greater sense of connection and ease in her body, offering great peace and relaxation. 

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

I am a photographer and printmaker and enjoy a variety of visual arts. I also write poetry and participate in several writing groups. Travel is one of my favorite pastimes, and I’m happy to be able to travel again following the pandemic. We also have lots of flowers in our yard and in our house. I love spending time with my family, including 3 children and their partners, and 3 grandchildren. 

What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

I love good food! I try to eat a very healthy diet but it has to have room for dessert – and I love anything with blueberries. I spent the pandemic baking sourdough bread for friends and family. My children are better cooks than I am (probably in self-defense!) but I like to bake healthy treats. Here are some favorites:

What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?

I love all kinds of music, although I am not blessed with any kind of musical talent myself. I like to listen to KCRW, BBC Sounds, and iTunes radio for awesome music mixes from all over the world. Jon Baptiste, Leon Bridges, Agnes Obel, Michael Kiwanuka, and Kaleo are some current favorites. And always Yo-Yo Ma. 

I stay riveted to British and Scandinavian mystery series. Continuing a theme, when I can’t think of anything else to watch, I default to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. If my daughter walks in the room when I’m watching, she sighs “Not again!”

What’s the last book you read? How was it?

I’m finishing up The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, which is an amazing rethinking of the intersection of health and culture. For escape and relaxation, I read British and Scandinavian mysteries. Among my favorite writers in this genre are Hennig Mankell, John Le Carré, Tana French, Peter Robinson, Camilla Lackberg, and Elizabeth George, among others. In the US, I am a big fan of Tony Hillerman whose novels were set on the Navajo and Hopi reservations. The really great writers cover themes of culture, political landscape, and psychology. 

Who or what inspires you?

I’ve been fortunate to have extraordinary teachers and to be acquainted with remarkable teachers.  The Mindfulness Teacher Training Certification Program offered by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield has been very important to this stage of my life. Enneagram teachers Helen Palmer and Sandra Maitri have been great inspirations.  My early teachers John Fey and Charlie Fechter started me on my path. 

My first job out of law school was a law clerk to Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. He modeled integrity, commitment, and courage in ways I can only aspire to. 

What’s your favorite quote?

“Presence does all the work.” – Hameed Ali (A.H. Almaas)

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

I aspire to be a painter. I also think the world needs many more good therapists. 

What’s one thing (not related to your job) that you could teach someone else how to do?

Bake really good cornbread and biscuits. 

Stephanie ward

In our most recent Spotlight, we caught up with Stephanie Ward, NCHPAD Community Health Educator. We chatted with Stephanie about what it’s like to lead Coffee Club, her favorite NCHPAD resources, and her favorite hobbies and foods.

When she’s not leading a fun or informative Coffee Club discussion, you may find her out and about promoting NCHPAD Connect, our online portal connecting people with mobility disabilities to personalized resources and programs.

How long have you been with NCHPAD?

Eight and a half years.

Tell us about your background & education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

My background is in the medical field. I have a medical assistant diploma, Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials and a certification as a Certified Patient Account Representative (CPAR). In addition to these credentials, I also have training in early childhood education and a bachelor’s in business.

I came to NCHPAD when I took an administrative position at UAB and then transitioned to the research side as a Community Health Educator.

What program or programs do you work with?

I work with NCHPAD CONNECT, MENTOR and I am the lead for NCHPAD Coffee Club. I also do a lot of community engagement events promoting NCHPAD.

What talents or expertise do you bring to NCHPAD or Coffee Club?

I would have to say my skill is connecting with people. I love being out in public meeting people and talking about all of the great programs and resources that we offer.

What is your favorite thing about NCHPAD or Coffee Club?

The fact that the program provides resources about physical activity and wellness specifically for people living with disabilities.

What’s your favorite NCHPAD resource or video series?

I love our Mindful Meditations.

What are you most looking forward to in Coffee Club?

Seeing people that I have engaged with take advantage of the benefits that a program has to offer. I love to watch participants in our programs thrive.

Share a success story. Tell us about a time when you really saw Coffee Club working in the life of a participant.

It makes my heart smile when I receive emails from participants telling me they enjoy a Coffee Club class that I led.

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

Shopping, thrifting and traveling.

What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

My favorite food is seafood – especially crab legs, fish and shrimp.

What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?

R&B and Gospel are my favorite types of music. I love drama, romance and comedy movies and tv shows.

What’s the last book you read?

It’s OK That You’re Not Okay by Megan Devine. It was good – very comforting when going through grief, which I am, since the unexpected loss of my son Tommie on May 8, 2022.

Who or what inspires you?

Positive feedback. Especially when a participate comes back to tell me he or she appreciates the work that I am doing to make Coffee Club a success.

What’s your favorite quote?

“I’m living the dream.”

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

President of the United States.

What’s one thing (not related to your job) that you could teach someone else how to do?

I love making yeast rolls, and I could show someone how to make those.

Tracy Tracy

For this week’s edition of NCHPAD Connect Spotlight, we caught up with Tracy F. Tracy, NCHPAD’s Healthcare Inclusion Specialist. We chatted with Tracy about her career, her work at NCHPAD and a few of her favorite hobbies.

How long have you been with NCHPAD?

Since June of 2021.

Tell us about your background & education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

I’ve been an occupational therapist (OT) since 1996. I ended up working specifically with people with multiple sclerosis from 2010-2021, and now my work focuses more broadly in wellness programs. I also started a PhD in rehabilitation sciences in 2020.

I started working closely with NCHPAD Director Dr. Jim Rimmer, associate director Dr. Zoe Young, and Dr. Tapan Mehta on a large study in 2017.

What do you do?

I’ve helped establish protocol for the NCHPAD Connect Call Center, and I work primarily on healthcare engagement and partnerships. I also onboard our partners, and now we’re working on how to recruit, retain and disseminate information.

We’re also working together with healthcare providers and their teams to establish a recruitment and referral system as well as some extensive healthcare training.

What talents or expertise do you bring to NCHPAD or this program?

I love building relationships and recruiting through a vast net. I like all tiers of engagement whether it’s our clinical partners, community partners or other stakeholders.

This is my favorite job, for sure. I love the fact that we’re offering a service that is unobtainable through insurance or healthcare systems.

What is your favorite thing about NCHPAD or this program?

This is my favorite job, for sure. I love the fact that we’re offering a service that is unobtainable through insurance or healthcare systems.

I think it’s so important that we add this adjunct resource, which is free, for access to these wellness programs. I love the fact that typically we focus on exercise for people with physical disabilities but we’re broadening that focus to mindfulness, mental health, nutrition and weight management. Our ultimate goal is to help lessen the gap in health access and health iniquities.

What’s your favorite NCHPAD resource or video series?

I love NCHPAD Coffee Club. I look forward to every meeting. The topics are so important to address. My favorite one that I’ve done was on arts and medicine. We did some mindfulness drawing and reflecting. – that was really fun!

What are you most looking forward to for NCHPAD Connect?

I’m looking forward to getting as many people involved in NCHPAD Connect as I can. I’m also interested in learning from our community what other resources they want us to create.

I’m looking forward to getting as many people involved in NCHPAD Connect as I can. I’m also interested in learning from our community what other resources they want us to create.

Share a success story. Tell us about a time when you really saw your program working in the life of a participant.

One of our registered dietitians identified a participant as being homeless, and we were able to work to develop resources with that participant so that they could seek housing.

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

I belong to two book clubs (one I’ve been in for 12 years). Tennis. I love paint by numbers and puzzles, so I always have one of them on our table at home. We don’t even eat at our table anymore. It’s lots of fun because our children and their friends know about it, so they’ll come over and know they can always paint or do a puzzle. I’m not a good cook, but I also love to cook for people and feed them.

What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

One of my mom’s old Irish potato casserole recipes that I’ll cook for Easter. My kids absolutely love it.

What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?

The Jerk with Steve Martin is my favorite movie; for music, we love everything, but I steer towards older classics like the Beatles; For tv, I just watched Daisy Jones and the Six and really enjoyed it.

What’s the last book you read? How was it?

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel.

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

I would be a painter. Like a wall painter; not a picture painter. Or a tennis player.

What’s one thing (not related to your job) that you could teach someone else how to do?

Talk on the phone!

John Reams - Mentor SPotlight

In this week’s edition of MENTOR Spotlight, we caught up with John Reams, our exercise physiologist here at NCHPAD. As exercise physiologist, John designs and leads our weekly exercise programming in the MENTOR program. We chatted with John about his role, his background, and his many hobbies and talents!

How long have you been with NCHPAD?

I’ve worked on MENTOR with NCHPAD for two years.

Tell us about your background & education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

I have a degree in biology and two master’s degrees: one in exercise physiology and one in nutrition sciences.

Before coming to NCHPAD, I worked at the Lakeshore Foundation for 12 years, transitioned to the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine for 5 years, and now I’m in my second year here at NCHPAD.

How long have you worked with people with disabilities?

18 years.

What do you do?

I am an Exercise Physiologist for MENTOR and NCHPAD. I combine my experience in clinical and wellness settings with my depth of education in exercise physiology and nutrition sciences.

What is your favorite thing about NCHPAD or this program?

I love sharing resources associated with the transformative qualities of exercise and nutrition with underserved populations. One of my favorite things about this job is guiding participants toward discovering resources for health-protective behavioral choices.

I love sharing resources associated with the transformative qualities of exercise and nutrition with underserved populations. One of my favorite things about this job is guiding participants toward discovering resources for health-protective behavioral choices.

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

Playing guitar.

What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

Donuts…any flavor!

What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?

I like to listen to punk, metal and jazz. As far as tv, I am a huge fan of documentaries.

What’s the last book you read? How was it?

Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act. It was really thought provoking.

What inspires you?

Sincerity and authenticity.

What’s your favorite quote?

“Are you simply interested, or are you invested?” – Source unknown

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

Studio session musician.

What’s one thing (not related to your job) that you could teach someone else how to do?

Build a staircase.

mentor spotlight
Aimee Whitten

In this week’s edition of MENTOR Spotlight, we caught up with Aimee Whitten, our Healthie Enrollment Coordinator. As Enrollment Coordinator, Aimee works with participants to get them added into Healthie, scheduled into classes and answering any questions that may come up. She also helps other members of our MENTOR team with various aspects of the program. 

How long have you been with NCHPAD?

I have been working with NCHPAD for a year but have worked with the UAB Research Collaborative for five years.

Tell us about your background & education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

I have a bachelor’s degree in health care management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). While attending UAB, I was offered a work-study position with the Research Collaborative that led to me being offered a full-time position working on the MENTOR program with NCHPAD.

How long have you worked with people with disabilities?

I have worked with people with disabilities for five years.

What is your favorite thing about NCHPAD or this program?

My favorite thing about MENTOR is our ability to reach so many individuals who can learn about mindfulness, exercise and nutrition – and to help them continue to grow and help themselves!

My favorite thing about MENTOR is our ability to reach so many individuals who can learn about mindfulness, exercise and nutrition – and to help them continue to grow and help themselves!

What’s your favorite NCHPAD resource or video series?

Mindfulness. The classes are very relaxing and helpful.

As far as other resources, I really like the videos that we post with different easy recipes because there is such a variety of healthy, simple recipes to watch and try. The most recent video is on kale, and both recipes are really easy!

Share a success story. Tell us about a time when you really saw your program working in the life of a participant.

A participant from the first group I worked with was very engaged and excited to start MENTOR through the whole enrollment process. I remember wondering if all the individuals I spoke to would be this excited for the program. It has been an amazing opportunity to learn about these participants and help them to get started in the program!

This participant reached out to me after the program to let me know how much they enjoyed being able to work with our team and learn from our instructors. The feedback they gave made me excited to see how our program could continue to help others as we continue to grow.

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

Outside of work I like to bake different sweets and treats, read and make chunky yarn blankets!

What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

My favorite food is cookies…haha! I enjoy baking cookies because of the different recipes I can make up and try. Two of my favorite recipes to make are oatmeal cream pie cookies and chocolate M&M cookies.

My favorite food is cookies...haha! I enjoy baking cookies because of the different recipes I can make up and try. Two of my favorite recipes to make are oatmeal cream pie cookies and chocolate M&M cookies.

What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?

Movies: I love a good comedy that can make me laugh! I am also a fan of horror movies, especially the ones that have a good jump scare in them.

TV Shows: My favorite TV show would have to be The Office! I can rewatch it and always find something I have missed before.

Who or what inspires you?

One person who inspires me is my mom. She is one of those people who will put everyone above herself and do whatever she can to help someone. Growing up I always looked up to her and the way she cares for others.

What’s your favorite quote?

“And when you find yourself lost in the darkness and despair, remember it’s only in the black of night you see the stars.” – One Tree Hill

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

If I could switch careers for a day, I would be a marine biologist. I have always loved the ocean and sea life.

mentor spotlight
Lacey Gammon

In this week’s edition of our blog, we caught up with Lacey Gammon, NCHPAD Nutrition Coordinator, who has been with NCHPAD since late 2019.

Lacey’s primarily role with NCHPAD is with MENTOR, where she teaches an inclusive online nutrition and basic cooking skills class to adults with physical disabilities. She also provides one-on-one nutrition counseling, writes disability-specific nutrition resources and provides general nutrition expertise.

In addition to these roles, Lacey serves as a preceptor for dietetic interns and helps develop nutrition-related partnerships.


Tell us about your background & education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

I graduated from the University of Alabama in 2013 with a degree in food and nutrition, then went to Samford University for my dietetic internship and Master of Public Health in 2016.

My interest in this field of dietetics started during my internship when I was at the Sparks Clinics in Birmingham and at Children’s Rehabilitation Services (CRS) at the Alabama Department of Public Health. I got to work with incredible dietitians who taught me about inborn errors of metabolism, autism, Rett syndrome, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and spina bifida. This led me to getting my first job at CRS in Montgomery leading a feeding clinic where I provided nutrition assessments for children with disability and unique health care needs. I loved it, but I missed living in Birmingham, so I moved back to work at NCHPAD.

How long have you worked with people with disabilities?

Six years.

 A quote about Lacey's work experience
What program or programs do you work with? How long have you worked with that program?

I’ve worked in the MENTOR program the whole time I’ve been here at NCHPAD.

What is your favorite thing about MENTOR?

I love getting to know people from other parts of the country and learning about their culture and ideas around food and nutrition.

I also try to facilitate a welcoming space where people can share their experiences and learn from each other.

What’s your favorite NCHPAD resource or video series?

I love our Snack Meals resource. It’s a simplified way of eating healthy by incorporating whole foods with minimal prep. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be time consuming or complicated.

I’m also really proud of our NutriLab Cooking videos. These recipes incorporate healthy foods that are proven to help prevent chronic diseases. Chef J is super entertaining!  

Share a success story. Tell us about a time when you really saw your program working in the life of a participant.

I’m always thrilled to hear how participants have made small changes that make a big impact on their health. Here’s some written feedback I’ve received from people who have completed MENTOR:

“Nutrition was where I needed the most help. I have never really been a ‘healthy’ eater. But since this class, my husband and I have re-evaluated our food habits and are now making much wiser choices as to what we eat.”

“I not only learned about how to maintain a healthy diet, but I’ve also learned a lot of delicious healthy recipes that I have actually added to my diet since.”

“The explanation and use of adaptive kitchen tools was useful for seeing what might help me in the kitchen.”

“I enjoyed the classes from start to finish. I liked learning how to adjust my diet to make it healthier. The recipes were easy to prepare and surprised me how good they tasted.”

“I realized that I don’t have to feel bad about taking short cuts to eat healthier. I can buy produce that’s already chopped or use frozen vegetables.”

The last week of the program, I challenge participants to share a recipe that summarizes what they have learned in the class. It’s been fun to see what participants come up with and applying what they’ve learned.

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

I play beach volleyball and host frequent ping pong tournaments at my house. I love living in Birmingham and attending food festivals, concerts and going to local breweries. I also enjoy entertaining and hosting casual dinner parties and game nights with friends.

What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

Over the past few years, I’ve been experimenting more with plant-based cooking. My favorite recipe is a veggie lasagna from Cookie and Kate. It combines all my favorite things, pasta, a creamy sauce and perfectly cooked vegetables.

Quote about what Lacey likes to cook
What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls is my favorite movie. I know all the words. “And you must be the monopoly guy…Thanks for the free parking!” I also love scary/horror movies. They’re not just for spooky season. I could watch them year-round.

I really enjoy music from the 1970s that my parents grew up listening to. I recently discovered a new playlist on Spotify called “Tailgate With Your Dad,” and it’s incredible.

The TV show Ghosts is hilarious. But it has to be the British version!

What’s the last book you read? How was it?

It had to be a children’s book, I’m sure! My niece loves when I read to her. I’m more of an audiobook listener. The last book I listened to was The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. It’s about a woman who investigates the murder of her niece’s college roommate who was involved in a private student group called “The Maidens.” It’s a mystery thriller with a surprising twist at the end – my favorite kind of book.

Who or what inspires you?

My students. I am a preceptor for dietetic interns in the Birmingham area. They inspire me to be knowledgeable about the latest diet trends. They get me out of my routine of daily tasks to think creatively about how to incorporate nutrition education in a fun and engaging way. They bring fresh ideas and excitement to the profession and are a wonderful reminder to not lose my passion and excitement for what I do.

What’s your favorite quote?

My favorite quote is actually a Bible verse that was used as our class motto in grad school. It”s Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

It’s a reminder that no matter what plans I have for myself, God’s plan is bigger. It’s a reminder to have faith.

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

Before starting in nutrition, I strongly considered becoming a wedding planner. I have a Type B personality with Type A tendencies. I love to plan and organize events. Either that or a professional cat-petter, whichever comes first!

Dr. Christine Ferguson

In our latest blog, we caught up with NCHPAD Nutrition Research Coordinator Dr. Christine Ferguson, a Registered Dietitian and researcher who has been with NCHPAD since August 2021.

Christine’s primary role with NCHPAD is with the MENTOR program, but she is also involved with a weight management program called State of Slim Everybody, and she is also in the process of creating a healthy grocery shopping program and video materials for people with disabilities and diabetes.

When she’s not at work, Christine loves reading and spending time with her family outside – especially helping her daughter “make a fun mess” while painting. Read our full interview below.


Tell us about your background and education. What brought you to NCHPAD?

I am a Registered Dietitian (RD) by training, and I received my degrees from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

At the end of my PhD Program, I learned about NCHPAD’s MENTOR program, and I immediately knew I wanted to be involved in such a beneficial program that also had a focus on the importance of nutrition.

How long have you worked with people with disabilities?

I’ve worked with people with disabilities at every job I’ve had since I was 16. As a dietitian, I started working with people with disabilities in the clinical setting about six years ago.

What program or programs do you work with? How long have you worked with that program?

I primarily work with the MENTOR program, and I am involved in the development of a specialty weight management program for people with disabilities after they complete the MENTOR program called State of Slim Everybody. I am also working on creating healthy grocery shopping program and video materials for people with disabilities and diabetes called NAVIGATE.

What do you do with MENTOR?

For NCHPAD, I am on the program evaluation side. We have excellent RDs who deliver MENTOR, so I am behind the scenes monitoring attendance, questionnaires, areas for quality improvement and more.

Quote on Christine's expertise
What expertise do you bring to MENTOR?

My expertise is in inclusive nutrition for people with disabilities. I enjoy working with people to make practical lifestyle changes that can improve their health and wellbeing.

What is your favorite thing about NCHPAD or MENTOR?

One of the many wonderful things about NCHPAD is that it has the unique ability to help people across the entire United States. My favorite thing is talking directly with MENTOR participants and hearing about their experience with the program and the impact it has made on their life.

What’s your favorite NCHPAD resource or video series?

I really enjoy NCHPAD’s recipe series on YouTube. The ones I have used the most involve pesto because I always seem to have extra greens at the end of the week, and I love pesto pasta!

What are you most looking forward to in this program?

I have heard from so many participants that they wish MENTOR was longer or if there was something they could do afterwards to keep the motivation going. I am really excited about the specialty programs that will soon be available for participants after the MENTOR program that will be more specific to their needs and/or interests.

Share a success story. Tell us about a time when you really saw your program working in the life of a participant.

I taught the nutrition classes for a cohort of MENTOR participants last year, and I had a participant who attended every class and was engaged by asking questions. We had great discussions as a group about adapting the kitchen space to be more accessible, and she said by the end of the program that she was spending more time actively preparing meals, which allowed her to have more control over making healthy substitutions.

She reached out a couple months after the program and said that she learned so much from the program and is feeling better too!

What hobbies do you have outside of work?

I enjoy reading and spending time with my family outside. My daughter is interested in painting, so I enjoy joining her and making a fun mess 😊 .

A quote from Christine
What’s your favorite food, favorite thing to cook or favorite recipe?

It’s not surprise I love food – it’s one of the many reasons I pursued nutrition and dietetics. If I had to narrow it down, I would choose sushi or Korean BBQ.

I also grew up baking with my grandmother, so my favorite recipes are any I’ve made with her like pecan pie or Mississippi mudcake.

My staple recipes I use almost on a weekly basis include balsamic roasted vegetables, guacamole and NCHPAD’s Whatever Greens you have Pesto.”

What’s your favorite music, movies or tv shows?
  • Music: I like a variety of music, but lately I have been enjoying WILLOW, Chance the Rapper and Remi Wolf.
  • Movies: I am a sucker for romantic comedies, and I could probably watch The Proposal a hundred times and still laugh.
  • TV Shows: My favorite has to be New Girl!
What’s the last book you read? How was it?

I just finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, and it was great science fiction novel.

Who or what inspires you?

Professionally, I am constantly inspired by NCHPAD’s director, Dr. James Rimmer, to think outside the box and exude passion for the work we do with people with disabilities. Personally, I am inspired by Michelle Obama and her family for many reasons. It stuck with me when she said, “For me, being Mom-in-Chief is, and always will be, job number one,” as I work through balancing my own career while being a mom.

What’s your favorite quote?

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates.

If you could switch careers for a day, what would you choose?

In another life, I would love to open my own coffee shop!

What’s one thing (not related to your job) that you could teach someone else how to do?

I enjoy (easy) gardening, and I can teach someone to propagate succulents.

mentor SPOTLIGHT